RADR 2217 - Radiographic Pathology -
Final
What are the different levels of trauma hospitals? correct answers Level I, Level II,
Level III, Level IV
Describe Level I Trauma centers. correct answers Total care for all injuries, 24-hr
surgery team, cardiac, hand, pediatric and microvascular surgeries. Provides
prevention, education and research. Treat 1200+ admissions and/or 240 major trauma
patients per year
Describe Level II Trauma centers. correct answers Most common trauma centers, 24-
hr general surgery team, available coverage of ortho, neuro, and anesthesiology.
Generally a community hospital.
Describe Level III Trauma centers. correct answers Centers located in rural areas that
provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, stabilizations, and provide transport to higher
level trauma centers.
Describe Level IV Trauma centers. correct answers Centers that proved advanced
trauma life support (ATLS) prior to transport to a higher level trauma center.
Which imaging modality is the primary means of evaluating skeletal trauma? correct
answers Plain film or conventional radiography
Which imaging modality is preferred when a patient has had blunt trauma to the
abdomen? correct answers Computed Tomography (CT)
Briefly describe he Glasgow Coma Scale (GSC). correct answers Scoring system used
to describe level of consciousness in a person s/p traumatic brain injury; "3" is the worst
possible rating and "15" is the best possible rating.
TRUE or FALSE: In patients with severe head injuries, cervical spine injury is assumed
to the present until it is ruled out with radiology exams. correct answers True: Head and
neck should be immobilized until cervical x-ray or CT is obtained to rule out fractures.
Besides spinal fractures and spinal cord injuries, what is another serious concern in
patients with hyperextension or direct trauma injuries of the head/neck? correct
answers Injury to the carotid arteries causing bleeding or whiplash.
What is whiplash? correct answers Hyperextension-flexion injury of the spine. Dull or
sharp pain in the posterior neck, that may radiated down the arms or back.
,What is the most common radiographic finding on a C-spine x-ray when a patient is
positive for whiplash injury? correct answers Loss of lordosis (muscle spasms cause
straightening of normal curvatures of spine)
Which part of the vertebral body is most affected by a compression fracture? correct
answers Damage is limited the upper portion of the vertebral body particularly the
anterior margin.
Compression fractures are most common at which two vertebral levels? correct
answers Thoracic (T-11/T12) and thoracolumbar junction (T12/L1)
Which cervical vertebra is associated with a hangman's fracture? correct answers
Cervical (C2)
Describe a "Hangman's" fracture. correct answers A fracture of the arch of the second
cervical vertebra odontoid process; accompanied by anterior subluxation of the C2 on
C3.
What is the usual mechanism of injury that causes a "hangman" fracture? correct
answers Acute hyperextension of the head.
What is another term for "hangman's" fracture? correct answers Traumatic Spondylosis
A "burst fracture" of C1 is also called a ____________ fracture. correct answers
Jefferson
Describe the findings of a "burst fracture" on the odontoid view x-ray. correct answers
Lateral masses of C1 are displaced laterally. The vertebral arch literally bursts.
Describe the difference between a stable and unstable spinal fracture. correct answers
With a stable fracture the anterior or posterior column of the spine is fractured or
dislocated. With unstable spinal fracture both the anterior and posterior spinal column is
injured.
What does the anterior spinal column consist of? correct answers Vertebral bodies and
vertebral disks.
What dose the posterior spinal column consist of? correct answers Spinous processes,
lamina, transverse processes and pedicles.
TRUE or FALSE: Once the cranial sutures become fused, they are no longer visible
radiographically. correct answers False: The sutures remain visible radiographically,
even after they become fused.
, Why is the location of a skull fracture more important than the extent of the fracture?
correct answers If the fracture crosses an artery, an arterial bleed may occur, resulting
in epidural hematomas. If the fractures enters the mastoid air cells or sinus
communicates with potentially infected space and lead to infection resulting in
encephalitis or meningitis.
What are the three types of skull fractures? correct answers Linear Fractures,
depressed fractures, and basilar skull fractures.
Describe a linear skull fracture. correct answers Straight sharply defined, nonbranching
lines and intensely radiolucent.
Describe a depressed skull fracture. correct answers A curvilinear density because the
fracture edges overlap
Describe a basilar skull fracture. correct answers Very difficult t o see, presence of air
fluid levels in the sphenoid sinus or clouding in mastoid air cells.
Which type of skull fracture is the most common? correct answers Linear skull fractures
Briefly describe a concussion. correct answers After a blow to the head, a temporary
loss of consciousness and reflexes.
What are the symptoms of a concussion? correct answers Widespread paralysis of
brain function is characterized by headache, vertigo, vomiting, for several hours
impaired mental functions, temporary memory loss, recovery within 24-hrs.
Bruising of the brain parenchyma is called a _____________. correct answers
Contusions
What is a "coup lesion"? correct answers A contusion formed on the side of the skull
where the trauma occurs
What is a "countercoup lesion"? correct answers a contusion formed on the opposite
side the skull where the trauma occurs.
What is a coma? correct answers Persistence of loss of consciousness for more than
24-hrs.
Define hematoma. correct answers A collection of blood.
Name the four type of cerebral hematomas and the locations. correct answers Epidural:
located between the bony skull and dura mater; Subdural: located between dura mater
and arachnoid meningeal layers; Subarachnoid: located between the arachnoid layer
and the pia matter; Intracerebral: within the brain commonly around the frontal, temporal
and occipital lobes
Final
What are the different levels of trauma hospitals? correct answers Level I, Level II,
Level III, Level IV
Describe Level I Trauma centers. correct answers Total care for all injuries, 24-hr
surgery team, cardiac, hand, pediatric and microvascular surgeries. Provides
prevention, education and research. Treat 1200+ admissions and/or 240 major trauma
patients per year
Describe Level II Trauma centers. correct answers Most common trauma centers, 24-
hr general surgery team, available coverage of ortho, neuro, and anesthesiology.
Generally a community hospital.
Describe Level III Trauma centers. correct answers Centers located in rural areas that
provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, stabilizations, and provide transport to higher
level trauma centers.
Describe Level IV Trauma centers. correct answers Centers that proved advanced
trauma life support (ATLS) prior to transport to a higher level trauma center.
Which imaging modality is the primary means of evaluating skeletal trauma? correct
answers Plain film or conventional radiography
Which imaging modality is preferred when a patient has had blunt trauma to the
abdomen? correct answers Computed Tomography (CT)
Briefly describe he Glasgow Coma Scale (GSC). correct answers Scoring system used
to describe level of consciousness in a person s/p traumatic brain injury; "3" is the worst
possible rating and "15" is the best possible rating.
TRUE or FALSE: In patients with severe head injuries, cervical spine injury is assumed
to the present until it is ruled out with radiology exams. correct answers True: Head and
neck should be immobilized until cervical x-ray or CT is obtained to rule out fractures.
Besides spinal fractures and spinal cord injuries, what is another serious concern in
patients with hyperextension or direct trauma injuries of the head/neck? correct
answers Injury to the carotid arteries causing bleeding or whiplash.
What is whiplash? correct answers Hyperextension-flexion injury of the spine. Dull or
sharp pain in the posterior neck, that may radiated down the arms or back.
,What is the most common radiographic finding on a C-spine x-ray when a patient is
positive for whiplash injury? correct answers Loss of lordosis (muscle spasms cause
straightening of normal curvatures of spine)
Which part of the vertebral body is most affected by a compression fracture? correct
answers Damage is limited the upper portion of the vertebral body particularly the
anterior margin.
Compression fractures are most common at which two vertebral levels? correct
answers Thoracic (T-11/T12) and thoracolumbar junction (T12/L1)
Which cervical vertebra is associated with a hangman's fracture? correct answers
Cervical (C2)
Describe a "Hangman's" fracture. correct answers A fracture of the arch of the second
cervical vertebra odontoid process; accompanied by anterior subluxation of the C2 on
C3.
What is the usual mechanism of injury that causes a "hangman" fracture? correct
answers Acute hyperextension of the head.
What is another term for "hangman's" fracture? correct answers Traumatic Spondylosis
A "burst fracture" of C1 is also called a ____________ fracture. correct answers
Jefferson
Describe the findings of a "burst fracture" on the odontoid view x-ray. correct answers
Lateral masses of C1 are displaced laterally. The vertebral arch literally bursts.
Describe the difference between a stable and unstable spinal fracture. correct answers
With a stable fracture the anterior or posterior column of the spine is fractured or
dislocated. With unstable spinal fracture both the anterior and posterior spinal column is
injured.
What does the anterior spinal column consist of? correct answers Vertebral bodies and
vertebral disks.
What dose the posterior spinal column consist of? correct answers Spinous processes,
lamina, transverse processes and pedicles.
TRUE or FALSE: Once the cranial sutures become fused, they are no longer visible
radiographically. correct answers False: The sutures remain visible radiographically,
even after they become fused.
, Why is the location of a skull fracture more important than the extent of the fracture?
correct answers If the fracture crosses an artery, an arterial bleed may occur, resulting
in epidural hematomas. If the fractures enters the mastoid air cells or sinus
communicates with potentially infected space and lead to infection resulting in
encephalitis or meningitis.
What are the three types of skull fractures? correct answers Linear Fractures,
depressed fractures, and basilar skull fractures.
Describe a linear skull fracture. correct answers Straight sharply defined, nonbranching
lines and intensely radiolucent.
Describe a depressed skull fracture. correct answers A curvilinear density because the
fracture edges overlap
Describe a basilar skull fracture. correct answers Very difficult t o see, presence of air
fluid levels in the sphenoid sinus or clouding in mastoid air cells.
Which type of skull fracture is the most common? correct answers Linear skull fractures
Briefly describe a concussion. correct answers After a blow to the head, a temporary
loss of consciousness and reflexes.
What are the symptoms of a concussion? correct answers Widespread paralysis of
brain function is characterized by headache, vertigo, vomiting, for several hours
impaired mental functions, temporary memory loss, recovery within 24-hrs.
Bruising of the brain parenchyma is called a _____________. correct answers
Contusions
What is a "coup lesion"? correct answers A contusion formed on the side of the skull
where the trauma occurs
What is a "countercoup lesion"? correct answers a contusion formed on the opposite
side the skull where the trauma occurs.
What is a coma? correct answers Persistence of loss of consciousness for more than
24-hrs.
Define hematoma. correct answers A collection of blood.
Name the four type of cerebral hematomas and the locations. correct answers Epidural:
located between the bony skull and dura mater; Subdural: located between dura mater
and arachnoid meningeal layers; Subarachnoid: located between the arachnoid layer
and the pia matter; Intracerebral: within the brain commonly around the frontal, temporal
and occipital lobes
